What is the future of Gene editing technology in India?

Major agricultural developments that have increased India's food security were built on innovation. In India, at least sixteen institutions are actively engaged in gene editing research. It is critical to encourage additional research and development in this industry to make progress. However, because of rigorous regulations on modified products, especially crops, widespread interest is limited.

Domestically grown Bt cotton (fibre use) and cottonseed oil have no market restrictions (food), Cottonseed meal (animal feed), as well as imported soybean and canola oils (food). Except for the farmers who are aware of the benefits of (Genetically engineered) GE crops, the majority are ignorant of it. Bt cotton is beneficial to farmers. Farmers indicate that they are willing to plant other GE crops, including those that are now being tested. The Indian regulatory approval mechanism is now stalled. There are almost no issues with food and apparel products made from Bt cotton, cottonseed, or cottonseed oil. Manufacturers, processors, importers, sellers, and distributors of soybean/canola oils and cottonseed meal purchasers of these goods. Some of the recent revisions that took place in regulatory guidelines are as follows-

These laws, known as "The Rules, 1989," were based on criteria concerning controlled research, biologics, and environmental and food system concerns. The laws were enacted in response to India's classification of GE crops as GMOs.
On July 28, 2020, the DBT committee presented the "Draft Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants" to the GEAC, suggesting that the SDN1 and SDN2 categories of genome editing procedures are comparable naturally occurring variance and neither include nor carry exogenous DNA.
To provide this exemption, these genome editing technologies should be exempted from the EPA (1986) under Rule 20 of the Rules 1989. Industry sources claim that in April 2022, the MOEFCC sent a note to state governments and concerned ministries involved in the biotech regulation process, exempting genome-edited plants that fall under the Rules of 1989's SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories.
The Standard Operating Procedures for Regulatory Review of Genome Edited Plants Under SDN1 and SDN2 Categories were released by the Department of Biotechnology on October 4, 2022.
On October 18, the Indian government regulatory body Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recommended in a meeting that the GM mustard seed be released into the environment for use in trials, demonstrations, and seed production. A controversy over the commercialization of the hybrid seed variety Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11) has erupted among scientists, farmers, and environmentalists, and a petition is filed in the Supreme court.

Indian regulators and policymakers take a conservative approach to GE crop and product biosafety. As a result of the negative media campaigns, numerous state governments have enacted restrictive laws (such as prohibitions on GE crop field trials), limiting biotech research and development.

The use of genome editing for crop development has the potential to propel India to the forefront of international agricultural trade and this can make India turn into a hotspot of global seed production in the market. High-quality seed development will greatly benefit small stakeholder farmers, resulting in improved agricultural returns.

However, this is only achievable because the government is revising its GE crop policy and providing incentives to better support genome-editing research in India. It is also critical that authorities try to improve knowledge of the scientific principles underlying GE technology so that farmers and consumers alike accept GE crops.